A Ferri Commitment to Safety
The General Directorate of Traffic (DGT) has revealed a set of initiatives aimed at strengthening safety on intercity routes. With a firm commitment to road safety, the organization is implementing new strategies to minimize accidents and their fatal consequences.
Incorporation of Advanced Technology
The general director of Traffic, Joan Carles Vidal, has announced the installation of 88 new speed control devices on secondary roads. These radars will be deployed on tracks with single lanes, two-way sections and physical separation between the lanes. The main purpose of this measure is to monitor speed levels and reduce risky behaviour.
Of these 88 new radars, 60% will be of the tram type and the remaining 40% will be spot radars. This diversification in the types of radars will allow a wider coverage of critical areas.
Road Safety Objectives
The central objective of the new measures of the DGT is to significantly improve safety on conventional roads. A report prepared by the Pirelli Foundation and the National Road Association (ANC) emphasizes the importance of these actions, as they could prevent up to 300 deaths and more than 800 serious injuries annually. Despite the estimated investment of around 1.8 billion euros, the benefits in terms of human lives amply justify this expenditure.
Director Vidal has stressed that the reduction of the speed limit to 90 km/h on many secondary roads has already borne fruit, with a 10% decrease in the number of recorded deaths. Statistics show that 66.16% of accidents with injuries or deaths and 73% of fatalities in intercity accidents take place on these roads, although they represent only 35% of the total traffic in Spain.
Focus on Accident Prevention
Joan Carles Vidal has highlighted that road departures and collisions appear as the most recurring accidents. Of particular concern are incidents involving motorcycles, with 450 fatalities per year, of which 75% occur on secondary roads.
The director of the DGT has expressed confidence in the possibility of significantly reducing accidents. In addition to the measures already taken, such as the prohibition of exceeding the speed limit by 20 km/h during overtaking maneuvers, the possibility of implementing additional lanes for this purpose has been considered.
Inter-institutional collaboration
Despite his determination to improve road safety, Vidal has pointed out that the construction and maintenance of roads are the responsibility of the General Directorate of Roads. However, it highlights the importance of the incorporation of advanced driving assistance systems (ADAS) in new vehicles as a complementary element in the prevention of accidents.